Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Use Feedback to Bolster Positive Workplace Safety


One of the most important elements of a Behavior Based Safety Model is feedback, yet it is often the most overlooked. We know that behavior is a function of its consequences, and repeating the cycle of behavior change occurs when you make sure to let your workers know how well they are doing.

Behaviorists for decades have been informing companies about the importance of feedback.  Feedback is the glue that binds the “what” you want them to do with the “what’s in it for them”, the positive consequences for them making the change in the first place.  

The right safety award system can reinforce behavior and improve the safety performance of your people.  The entire behavior change model is based on feedback which can both close and then reopen the loop to continue improving performance. 

Here are a few tips on how to give proper feedback:

  • Describe what you’ve personally seen, not what others told you
  • Respect your workers privacy
  • Concentrate on behaviors, not other unrelated issues
  • Be as specific as possible
  • Be as timely with the feedback as you can and give it as soon after the occurrence as possible

 Not having feedback is like bowling with a curtain in front of the pins.  You do a great job of lining up, approaching the lane with a good motion, rolling the ball down the center and hearing the pins dropping, but you don’t know how many went down.  You can’t have a good recognition program without letting everyone know how they are doing.

For more information on AwardSafety products or services or other white papers please contact us at awardsafetyinfo@cox.net




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